Australia commits 2.9 million for renewable energy [1]
Thursday, May 28, 2020 - 20:13
Australia has committed a further AUD 2.9 million for new renewable energy infrastructure in Tonga.
This new funding through the Outer Islands Renewable Energy Project (OIREP) will include ensuring that Vava’u will have 100% coverage from a safe, reliable, and climate resilient electricity network.
The project to be completed by July 2022 is expected to bring economic activity to Vava’u through local workforce and goods and services opportunities, helping reduce the economic impacts of the global COVID-19 crisis.
Australian High Commissioner HE Adrian Morrison, said today it is important they support Tonga to be self-sufficient and resilient.
“OIREP means Tongans living on outer islands. They will have reliable access to affordable energy to enable work, education and home life,” he said.
This brings Australia’s total funding for OIREP to AUD 9.5 million since 2013.
Meanwhile, the OIREP project led by the Asian Development Bank in other works is bringing solar power infrastructure and energy storage to ‘Uiha, Nomuka, Ha’ano, Lifuka, Ha’afeva, ‘Eua, Vava’u, Niuatoputapu and Niuafo’ou.
It is also rehabilitating the electricity networks on ‘Eua and Vava’u.
The benefits of the completed network upgrades on ‘Eua were proven after Tropical Cyclone Gita (2018) and the recent Tropical Cyclone Harold in April.
OIREP also supportsTonga to reduce dependence on costly imported fossil fuels and achieve its target of generating 70% of all electricity from renewable sources by 2030.
This additional funding was committed on May 22.